No proof yet that abduction of Chinese woman in Makati is a case of kidnap for ransom —police

Police have yet to conclude that Monday night's abduction of a female Chinese national in Makati City, which was caught on video and has since gone viral on social media, was a case of "kidnap for ransom."

"Di pa namin inaano na ito ay isang case ng kidnapping [for ransom] kasi di pa natin matukoy kung magkano nga yung halagang hinihingi at hindi pa natin nakakausap itong asawa nitong biktima," said Police Major Gideon Ines, chief of Makati Police Criminal Investigation Unit, in an interview on Balitanghali on Tuesday.

Ines said the victim's husband returned to their condominium unit on Tuesday morning where he supposedly told the security guard that the kidnappers were asking for money.

"Umuwi 'yung asawa niya kaninang umaga. Nakausap ng security guard, nagmamadali. Sabi niya yung dumukot daw is they are asking for money. Yun ang pagkakaintindi ng security guard," he said.

Police traced the couple's address through the documents left from the scene of the crime, which included a deed of sale, passports, a driver's license, and IDs. Ines said the couple's names were on the deed of sale.

Police are investigating if the abduction has something to do with the deed of sale, especially after they learned that the other name on it had a fake driver's license, which was discovered after the address on it turned out to be non-existent.

"Ibig sabihin 'yung license na nakuha natin, peke pala," Ines said, adding that the signature on the driver's license was not consistent with those in other documents.

Ines said they are already coordinating with the Chinese Embassy regarding the incident.

Initial investigation showed that the vehicle used in abducting the woman went around the block three times before it stopped at the Paseo de Roxas Avenue area. The victim boarded the vehicle and talked to some people, which were believed to be also Chinese. She stepped out of the vehicle but the male passengers forcibly pulled her back inside.

Makati Police chief Colonel Rogelio Simon earlier said the victim was wearing a face mask to hide her identity. He added that the victim might have done something that resulted in the kidnapping.

"It's either yung babae parang may atraso kasi unang-una itinatago rin niya ang kanyang identity," he said.

"Ang tinigtignan namin usually mga POGO or online companies ng mga Chinese na yung kanilang mga employees nakakagawa ng kasalanan o kaya may mga  ninanakaw doon sa company," he added.

The plate number of the van was traced to a different vehicle. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News